You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them ontime (no later than Sunday, April 1 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph. The Normal Heart begins in New York City, in the waiting area of Dr. Emma Brookner. Craig, Ned, and Mickey are waiting together. Other main characters who come in later are Bruce, Felix, Tommy, Ben Weeks, and Dr. Brookner. It takes place in between July 1981 and May 1984 during the beginning of the HIV/AID’s crisis.
2. What is the intrusion? The intrusion is that Ned goes with Craig to Dr. Emma’s office for an appointment. Ned reaches out to her to talk to her about the Times article and to gain more information. While there, Craig is brought in, seizing. He dies, and that is what breaks the stasis and causes Ned to become a spokesperson for the disease. This is what causes him to meet Felix, to confront his brother, etc.
3. What is the unique factor? The unique factor is that Doctor Emma Brookner has realized the gay community is dying at a rapid rate of a disease that has yet to be given a name, any research, or a cure. It is the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and Ned Week’s is right in the middle of it.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? Will they find out what the disease is? Will Ned get anyone to do anything for the gay community? What will happen to the gay community? Will Felix die? Will Ben accept his brother?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it. Known by most people: HIV/Aids is mainly killing gay men and is therefore not considered important to the rest of the community. Only known to one: Bruce is gay, the disease is spreading through sex (Emma knows),
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be. I think there are numerous theatrical moments throughout the play, and it is in fact highly theatrical over all. If I had to choose, I’d say the last scene. Felix and Ned “marry” in the hospital room right before Felix dies. After, Ned begins ranting about what he should’ve done, what he could’ve done, how he could’ve fought hard. His brother, Ben, comforts him, and we know that even though Ned has lost one love, he still has his family.
7. List some of the themes of the play. love, homosexuality, hiv/aids crisis, death, friendship, family, grief, social justice and change, government, inequality, humanity
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants? Me against myself: Ned wants to be loved, Me against other individuals: Ned wants approval and acceptance from his brother, but Ben is homophobic; Ned wants to push his movement loudly and aggressively, but Bruce, the leader, is in the closet and doesn’t agree with his tactics. Me against society: Ned wants the newspapers to write articles on the crisis, he wants the government to pay attention, he wants help for the gay community that is dying, and none of them want to risk association with them. Me against fate: Ned loves Felix and wants to spend his life with him, but Felix is dying
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play. "The Normal Heart” might be a way of playing into the idea that being gay isn’t seen as “normal” in society. It depicts the image of what was seen as acceptable during that time, and why it was so hard to get help when HIV/AIDS swept their community.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play. Ben and Ned’s big/little brother relationship is explored within A Normal Heart. Ned loves him and wants his approval so badly, but he also wants his brother to be supportive of who he is. Ben isn’t outright homophobic but he quietly believes it is wrong and Ned, through the Aids crisis, sees that people like him are the reason they aren’t getting the help they need. Ultimately, Ben is able to embrace his brother for who he is. The gay community is explored as another type of family, though not by blood. The strife of the crisis and shared grief brings them together during a time when the rest of the world turns its’ back.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The Normal Heart begins in New York City, in the waiting area of Dr. Emma Brookner. Craig, Ned, and Mickey are waiting together. Other main characters who come in later are Bruce, Felix, Tommy, Ben Weeks, and Dr. Brookner. It takes place in between July 1981 and May 1984 during the beginning of the HIV/AID’s crisis.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is that Ned goes with Craig to Dr. Emma’s office for an appointment. Ned reaches out to her to talk to her about the Times article and to gain more information. While there, Craig is brought in, seizing. He dies, and that is what breaks the stasis and causes Ned to become a spokesperson for the disease. This is what causes him to meet Felix, to confront his brother, etc.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is that Doctor Emma Brookner has realized the gay community is dying at a rapid rate of a disease that has yet to be given a name, any research, or a cure. It is the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and Ned Week’s is right in the middle of it.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will they find out what the disease is? Will Ned get anyone to do anything for the gay community? What will happen to the gay community? Will Felix die? Will Ben accept his brother?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Known by most people: HIV/Aids is mainly killing gay men and is therefore not considered important to the rest of the community.
Only known to one: Bruce is gay, the disease is spreading through sex (Emma knows),
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I think there are numerous theatrical moments throughout the play, and it is in fact highly theatrical over all. If I had to choose, I’d say the last scene. Felix and Ned “marry” in the hospital room right before Felix dies. After, Ned begins ranting about what he should’ve done, what he could’ve done, how he could’ve fought hard. His brother, Ben, comforts him, and we know that even though Ned has lost one love, he still has his family.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
love, homosexuality, hiv/aids crisis, death, friendship, family, grief, social justice and change, government, inequality, humanity
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Me against myself: Ned wants to be loved,
Me against other individuals: Ned wants approval and acceptance from his brother, but Ben is homophobic; Ned wants to push his movement loudly and aggressively, but Bruce, the leader, is in the closet and doesn’t agree with his tactics.
Me against society: Ned wants the newspapers to write articles on the crisis, he wants the government to pay attention, he wants help for the gay community that is dying, and none of them want to risk association with them.
Me against fate: Ned loves Felix and wants to spend his life with him, but Felix is dying
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
"The Normal Heart” might be a way of playing into the idea that being gay isn’t seen as “normal” in society. It depicts the image of what was seen as acceptable during that time, and why it was so hard to get help when HIV/AIDS swept their community.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Ben and Ned’s big/little brother relationship is explored within A Normal Heart. Ned loves him and wants his approval so badly, but he also wants his brother to be supportive of who he is. Ben isn’t outright homophobic but he quietly believes it is wrong and Ned, through the Aids crisis, sees that people like him are the reason they aren’t getting the help they need. Ultimately, Ben is able to embrace his brother for who he is.
The gay community is explored as another type of family, though not by blood. The strife of the crisis and shared grief brings them together during a time when the rest of the world turns its’ back.